Tropical Storm Filipo leaves an area in central Mozambique without communications

The first effects of severe tropical storm Filipo have left the Machanga region in the south of Sofala province in central Mozambique without communications, the National Institute for Disaster Management and Reduction (INGD) said on Tuesday.

“This is still preliminary data, we have indications that the Machanga area is the hardest hit (…). We are without telephone contact with local authorities and our coordinators. We don’t have specific information, but the first signs are that there is some damage to the infrastructure,” Aristides Armando, an INGD delegate, said at a press conference in the city of Beira, central Mozambique.

The National Institute of Meteorology (Inam) of Mozambique confirmed today that the strong tropical storm Filipo entered the continent at 05:00 (03:00 in Lisbon) through the Inhassoro district, Inhambane province, in a southwesterly direction, namely Maputo. .

Before arriving in Inhambane province, the first effects of this phenomenon primarily affected the Buzi districts and the city of Beira, as well as Machanga, which borders Inhambane province.

“Teams are currently on site to survey infrastructure that has been completely or partially destroyed, especially in Machanga and Buzi. We are also studying the list of people in need, which mainly includes people whose homes were destroyed by strong winds. and rain,” Aristides Armando added, adding that classes had been suspended in the affected areas.

Mozambique’s government said on Tuesday that seven of the country’s cities would experience flooding after severe tropical storm Filipo and danger levels in several river basins would rise above alert levels, predicting that 525,405 people would be affected in the cities of Quelimane, Beira and Quelimane. Vilanculo, Maxixe, Xai Xai, Maputo and Matola.

Severe Tropical Storm Filipo will also affect 870 schools and 149 health facilities in Maputo City and the provinces of Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane and Sofala.

A total of 98,756 people have been without power since Tuesday morning in Mozambique as severe tropical storm Filipo hit the country, Eletricidade de Moçambique (EDM) said.

“Over the next 24 hours, the system will continue to move southwesterly, which may also impact weather characterized by very heavy rain, maximum wind speeds of 90 km/h and gusts of up to 120 km/h,” the National Institute of Meteorology warning reads.

Mozambique is considered one of the countries worst hit by climate change in the world, experiencing cyclical floods and tropical cyclones during the rainy season, which runs from October to April.